Olivia Castleden, a Grade 9 learner at Somerset College, has proven herself one of Africa’s top young mathematicians, bagging silver medals at the prestigious 2025 Pan African Mathematics Olympiad (Pamo) in Botswana.
The 14-year-old mathematical talent represented South Africa as part of the national team that dominated the competition, ultimately securing first place overall. Competing against the continent’s brightest young minds, Castleden’s exceptional performance is particularly remarkable given that she is several years younger than most participants.
When reflecting on her experience, Castleden advised:
“To people who want to participate, I suggest that they just go for it. By just writing the first round, they have already gained valuable experience, even if they don’t progress to the next round.”
Castleden’s silver medal in the individual competition was complemented by another silver in the girls’ division, highlighting her outstanding ability to solve complex problems in algebra, geometry, number theory, and combinatorics.
The competition, hosted by the Mathematical Association of Botswana at the University of Botswana from Sunday 8 to Wednesday 18 June, featured six challenging problems designed to test creativity and rigorous reasoning.
Prof Karam Aloui, executive secretary of the Pamo Committee, explained that the problems cover key areas of pre-university mathematics without adhering to a fixed syllabus.
South Africa’s team excelled with three gold medallists: Erik Senekal (Grade 11, Hoërskool Menlopark), James Prins (Grade 12, SACS), and Noah Greenblatt (Grade 11, King David High School).
Alongside Castleden’s silver, Ruth Trimble, a Grade 11 Pinelands High School learner, also earned silver, while Grade 11 Parklands College learner WanRu Zhou secured bronze.
Prof Seithuthi Moshokoa, executive director of the South African Mathematics Foundation, praised the team’s achievements: “Their dedication, resilience and innovative thinking exemplify our mission to nurture mathematical talent and empower our teachers and learners.”
For Castleden this remarkable success marks what many predict will be the beginning of a brilliant mathematical career, as she continues to represent Somerset West and South Africa on the global stage.
“We are so proud of Olivia Castleden,”
Somerset College announced on its Facebook page.
The school detailed her remarkable mathematical journey, which began at Somerset House in Grade 4 with the South African Mathematics Challenge.
Through years of dedication and exceptional performance in the Old Mutual South African Mathematics Olympiad (Samo), Castleden steadily advanced through competitive training camps and rigorous selection processes to earn her place on the national team.
“A decade of dedication, brilliance and persistence has led to this incredible moment. Well done, Olivia, we are inspired by your passion and excellence!”
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